Mayerling (1968)

Director:

Terence Young

Writers:

Claude Anet (novel)
Michel Arnold (novel)

Release Date:

14 November 1968 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama | History | Romance

Plot Keywords:

Remake | Aristocracy | One Word Title | Foreign Language Adaptation | Royalty

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Omar Sharif	...	Archduke Rudolf
Catherine Deneuve	...	Maria Vetsera
James Mason	...	Emperor Franz-Josef
Ava Gardner	...	Empress Elizabeth
James Robertson Justice	...	Prince of Wales
Geneviève Page	...	Countess Larish (as Genevieve Page)
Andréa Parisy	...	Princess Stephanie (as Andrea Parisy)
Ivan Desny	...	Count Hoyos
Maurice Teynac	...	Moritz Szeps
Mony Dalmès	...	Baroness Vetsera (as Mony Dalmes)
Moustache	...	Bratfisch
Fabienne Dali	...	Mizzi Kaspar
Roger Pigaut	...	Count Karolyi
Bernard La Jarrige	...	Loschek (as Bernard Lajarrige)
Véronique Vendell	...	Lisl Stockau (as Veronique Vendell)

Also Known As:

Terence Young's Mayerling (UK) (complete title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sex-related scenes.

Runtime:

USA:140 min | 127 min (Turner Classic Movies)

Country:

France | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System) | 70 mm 6-Track (UK release) (RCA Recording System)

Certification:

UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) | Iceland:L | West Germany:12 (f) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:Btl | USA:M (original rating) | USA:PG-13 (re-rating) (1995)

Filming Locations:

Studios de Boulogne-Billancourt/SFP - 2 Rue de Silly, Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France

Company:

Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC)

Trivia:

Originally planned as a starring vehicle for the husband-and-wife team of Mel Ferrer and Audrey Hepburn, who had performed Mayerling for TV in 1957.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The German anthem "Deutschland, Deutschland uber Alles" was played twice in the Austrian court when Franz Josef and his entourage came in.

Movie Connections:

Remake of Mayerling (1936)

Soundtrack:

The Waves of the Danube

Beautiful movie

This movie is perhaps one of the most beautiful movies I have ever seen-both literally and figuratively! I've never seen a more beautifully photographed movie. The use of location settings and outdoor photography is second to none. The costumes and settings show that the producers obviously didn't skimp on quality. They're breathtaking and almost rate their own review. Aesthetically I can't remember the last time I saw such a beautiful film. Dramatically it drags a bit at times but overall is a very compelling tale, made all the more poignant because it is based on events that actually took place. Omar Sharif and Catherine Deneuve are remarkable as the doomed lovers. Their final scene together, as they talk while she's falling asleep is magnificent. It's obvious why Deneuve has had such a love affair with the camera over the years. She's absolutely flawlessly photographed(no other woman with the exception of the late Sharon Tate even comes close). You can see why a man would be driven to give up an empire for her. As an added bonus the great Ava Gardner came out of semi-retirement to play Sharif's mother and gives this movie an added touch of class(not that it needed any more). If you're a fan of costume dramas or doomed love stories then this movie is for you. Quite simply it combines the best elements of both genres. A treat.